For the past few days, several nexus related rumors have surfaced. The specs related to the two upcoming smartphones have been revealed, along with which a supposed image showcasing the front of device has come up and lastly the 3D renders from just a few hours ago. The sources of all these rumors are solid for the most part, however we may have something to add.

A difference in Build Materials

After constantly trying to get our hands on some inside information, we can now confirm one thing. According to a leak originating from the manufacturing division of HTC itself, the Nexus Marlin (M1) and Sailfish (S1) will be built with different materials. As one can guess Marlin will be treated with the same metal quality as that of the HTC 10, so an all metal design. While the Sailfish will be using the combination of plastic and metal, the frame will be made of metal while the body will be using a soft plastic built as seen on the Desire line of smartphones from the Taiwanese manufacturer. The step is essentially a unsurprising one, using poly-carbonate (plastic) will help HTC to lower the cost of Sailfish, which is expected to be priced on the cheaper side (still above 350$ though). As for the 3d Render from earlier today, we aren’t too sure and still put our trust on the one from AndroidPolice a few weeks ago.

i’m torn, if they get it jump started too much, i would never have that device no one else has, ya know? love my nexus phones….but i love that barely anyone else has it.

Alan Espinosa

Also own a nexus 6, hope they have a discount for it during black Friday

M3D1T8R

Disappointing. I don’t mind plastic but I was hoping they’d finally just make basically the same flagship spec’s device in two different sizes, like most people want. Really they should make a 4.9 – 5″ version and a 5.7″ version. If they’re actually going to be 5″ and 5.5″ as rumored, that is closer in size so should have been a warning sign that the two devices would be dissimilar in more ways.

The only positive I can take away from this is that there should now be the possibility of the smaller (plastic) device having wireless charging.

Of course I am not holding out hope, as it would make way too much sense to include this useful feature (like many previous Nexus’ had), and every new phone apparently has to – by design – have some shortcomings.

Knowbody

Well, the internal components are mostly the same (CPU, RAM, cameras)
The basic differences are 1080p instead of 1440p, lower battery capacity, and only having a 32GB variant vs 32/128GB variants

M3D1T8R

Yeah I’m glad about those specs being the same. And 1080p is fine at 5″. But a much smaller battery and weak storage options (and now the cheaper build too if true), shows that it’s still going to be the “lesser” of the two devices. This will continue yet again the strange narrative that people who prefer a smaller phone don’t care to actually use it much.

I’m still hoping this new smaller Nexus will be great, finally the device to replace my aging og Moto X. But it’s starting to appear that Google didn’t fully learn the lesson of last year’s 5X.

Henrik

the N5X is a nice phone, but people think it is a cheap ass phone considering the price (half that of a 6p in sweden) and build materials (low weight, plastic).

But other then that there is nothing wrong with it, performs just as good as any new device. Screen is accurate and good (not the best though) and the camera is exact same as in 6p. Only drawback – and this is just for high end users and people that know the difference – the 2GB ram. It in no way affect how the device is used, but compared to a 4GB device the app loading is noticeably slow but not much worse then any other phone the past years and alot of people would not consider it a problem unless you point it out to them

tabatt13

I’d be happy with the HTC 10 body, with stock Android and updated specs.

etndbs

Here we go again… Yet another product line that assumes that people who want smaller devices want them to be made with cheaper materials.
Give me a break.

Henrik

They assume that smaller devices has to be cheaper (materials, price).

If they came with a Nexus htc 10 i would swap my normal 10 for that. but not if the size is larger then the current htc 10 or Nexus 5x. Both are larger then similar phones like the S6.

Never a phone with 5.5″ screen, juck.

If the N5X was as “premium” as the 6P (not that it was wery premium with quality problems) it would have sold alot more then it has done. People hold the N5X and it feels cheap but the phone is quite well built and performs really good for what it is.

alpha2beta

The more I hear about the new Nexus phones the more I am disappointed.

They’ve clearly read the market right. Small phones are for poor people and little girls, hence the plastic build. Haha all you who “wish for a flagship but in the 5-5.2 range”, well you have your options. Sorry, but no nexus for you.

InfiGraph

You’re an idiot

Howard Stern ✓ᵛᵉʳᶦᶠᶦᵉᵈ

love it, I hope the price is decent. I had the Nexus 6, and now the 6P. I dont mind those price points. I would grab the larger of the 2 that is being leaked though.

blindexecutioner

I’d rather have a plastic phone anyway. I’m fine with this.

ksuuk

Same here. Better original soft touch native plastic, than some ugly cover.

About Us

With the launch of Google Nexus One, Android showed it's true colors and since then there have been many Nexus devices from various manufacturers. While some didn't make the news, recently we have seen the brand get a refreshed interest among Android users and hence Nexus Blog (www.nexusblog.net) was created.